Detail and explain the pro-business philosophy and policies of th Republican administrations of the 1920s, the major scandals that occurred during the Harding presidency, and the expansion of the American economy from 1922 to 1928.

REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATIONS AND THE 1920S ECONOMY

During the 1920s , the administrations of Republican presidents Warren Harding , Calvin Coolidge , and Herbert Hoover all embraced laissez-faire economic policies that favored the private sector and urged the economy to expand dramatically during the decade . However , they also faced several scandals and , more importantly , ignored serious problems within the economy which culminated in the economy 's 1929 collapse and subsequent Great Depression

Starting with their victory in the 1920 elections , the Republicans turned the government 's policies away from Progressive Era reforms and toward

the private sector , which had expanded rapidly during World War I and now focused mainly on consumer items . For most of the decade , the government 's policy was overtly laissez-faire , with very little government activity in the economy . Harding characterized it as a return to normalcy ' while Coolidge 's statement that This is a business country , and it wants a business government ' seems to serve as a fitting epitaph for the era

All three presidents named business advocates or leading businessmen to their cabinets and their policies generally focused on helping American business grow reforms in favor of women , people of color , and workers were largely ignored . The Harding administration aided American businesses by raising tariffs against imports and by defending open shop ' labor policies , which excluded unions and gave even more power to employers . Even regulatory agencies like the Federal Trade Commission were headed by businesspeople who ran those bodies in ways favorable to business

Under Coolidge , these practices continued , with the Treasury Department 's efforts to alter tax policies to benefit the wealthiest individuals and companies . Some were outraged by the government 's open collusion with big business Senator George Norris , a former Progressive , sarcastically asked , If trusts , combinations , and big business are to run the government , why not permit them to do it directly ' while the Wall Street Journal exalted , Never before . has government been so completely fused with big business

Critics ' outrage seemed to be justified , especially during the short scandal-ridden Harding administration . Historian Paul Boyer comments that Harding 's short presidency had an aura of back-room sleaze reminiscent of the Grant administration ' Harding , not known for his political savvy and considered too inexperienced for the presidency appointed a few of his cronies to high-level positions Harry Daugherty his campaign manager , became attorney general , while his friends Albert Fall and Charles Forbes became secretary of the interior and director of the Veterans Bureau , respectively . All three proceeded to do the administration considerable damage , perhaps contributing to Harding 's death from a heart attack in 1923

Daugherty , Fall , and Forbes were all suspected of criminal activity as early as 1922 , and after Harding 's premature death a year later , a Senate investigation revealed that Forbes had stolen millions from the bureau and fled the country (leaving two guilty subordinates to commit suicide . Meanwhile , Daugherty was accused of influence peddling and driven from office , though he managed to avoid conviction . The most egregious scandal , though , was the Teapot...